Read this only if you have nothing else to do but note down the angle subtended by the sun (or the moon) at your eye every two minutes.

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Friday, January 24, 2014

Quotes from Eknath Eashwaran's FB Page

"When we get upset, it's not because life upsets us. We get upset because we're upsettable. With practice, everyone can develop a mind that's unupsettable. One of the best ways to do this is to give complete attention and respect to those around us - particularly when we differ."

"Jealousy
comes into a relationship when we try to possess someone for ourselves.
It is a very difficult secret to discover: that when we do not want to
possess another person selfishly, when we do not make demand after
demand, the relationship will grow and last. And it is
something we have to learn the hard, hard way. This is the secret of all
relationships, not only between husband and wife, boyfriend and
girlfriend, but between friend and friend, parents and children."

"It is the nature of an untrained mind to keep moving, moving, moving. But the mind is infinitely teachable. You can make it natural for your mind not to move, but to dwell like a laser wherever you place it. That is the secret of genius, and it is the secret of satisfying relationships too."

"When your own mind is slow, you will be calm under attack. You will be in control of your own responses. Then you will not be afraid of angry people; you will be able to face them with affection in your heart, security in your mind, and a quiet confidence that you can slow down their anger. Even a belligerent person can sense that you are remaining calm, so you not only remain free from anger yourself but help the other person to calm down too."

"We do not still our minds in a week or even a year; it takes a long, long period of steady, enthusiastic effort. We should never be impressed by anyone who claims to give us complete control over the conscious, preconscious, and unconscious levels of the mind in a four-week seminar. But even it it takes a lifetime to attain this state, it is worth all our time and attention."

"It is no small thing to compose a sonata or write a perceptive novel; we are indebted to the great composers and writers who have given us beauty and insight into human nature. But I am most moved by the beauty of the perfectly crafted life, where every bit of selfishness has been carved away and what is thought, felt, said, and done are brought into harmony."

“We have to have a purpose greater than the endless struggle to satisfy personal desires.”

"The mind is conditioned to go after what it likes and to avoid what it dislikes, and so it is never at rest. If we can observe our mind with a little detachment, we can watch this process. Training the mind to be patient and calm under all circumstances, then, often begins with learning to wear our likes and dislikes loosely, casually, like a favorite old sweater."

“We
need people if we are to grow, and all our problems with them, properly
seen, are opportunities for growth. Can you practice patience with a
deer? Can you learn to forgive a redwood? But trying to live in harmony
with those around you right now will bring out enormous inner
toughness.”

"When the mind is still, we can become an instrument of peace."

"Our
speech has power. If we are careless in the words we choose – or even
deliberately negative – we can set in motion damaging forces that are as
threatening as a viral epidemic. Or we can add our voice to the harmony
that underlies all life by choosing our words with care, honesty, and –
above all – kindness."

“Developing
a one-pointed mind will enrich your life moment by moment. You will
find that your senses are keener, your emotions more stable, your
intellect more lucid, your sensitivity to the needs of others
heightened. Whatever you do, you will be there more fully.”